Oh ! OK ! How many rounds have you put through it ? I have heard that over a while the copper build up will affect accuracy.

I know sharp shoot r wipe out works great and won't hurt a thing. Or it could be finding that right factory load.With those fusions and interlocks, my rifle didn't recoil the same , meaning it was a lot smoother with the sciroccos and federal power shoks. All ammo was the same muzzle velocity accept the fusions.

I've read some rifles build up copper faster than others. I've been told it takes about 500 rounds for copper to degrade accuracy in some rifles.

I used the wipe out on mine to experiment with groups , as in a group from a totally clean barrel to groups from a copper fould and carbon fould barrel.

Groups got tighter when the barrel started fouling. I haven't experienced how she acts with 500 rounds.

I have had bad groups with my sled , so when I shoot now, I circle around the feet of the sled with a sharpie and make sure the butt stock is snug tight against the shoulder part of the rest when it's on target. After I fire each round I put everything back in its spot.

I use an 18lbs weight.

With the right ammo and letting the barrel cool between shots ,I can get them to touch.

I would use bags with a TC . I have never seen one that really shoots "lights out" but it should be doing way better than 3 or 4 inches. But for the most part they do shoot better with bags it seems. It also could be ammo cause they are very long chambered guns and seem finicky. After I broke a scope using a sled , I will never use one again. HySkore has a sled with a shock on it to allow the gun to recoil to avoid this kind of thing happening. Good luck. FWIW, The TCs are notorious for misfires due to headspacing problems regardless of caliber. It is not just the 35 Whelen but quite a few. I had a 243 barrell that was a nightmare but the 35 never failed go figure. I would save all my brass and just necksize when reloading.

I guess I'm just set in my ways but if I had a rifle that wouldn't shoot a better group than that (3-4"groups)even with factory loads it would be up for sale. Life is too short to shoot guns that won't group!